<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1997 <CASH> 952,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 58,516,000 <ALLOWANCES> (1,810,000) <INVENTORY> 65,977,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 127,869,000 <PP&E> 64,202,000 <DEPRECIATION> 34,013,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 199,578,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 39,355,000 <BONDS> 42,188,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,276,000 <OTHER-SE> 100,927,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 199,578,000 <SALES> 192,817,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 192,817,000 <CGS> 127,313,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 173,183,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (892,000) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,403,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,123,000 <INCOME-TAX> 6,770,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,353,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,353,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.06 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.06